Ramshackle villages made out of corrugated metal sheets, plastic tarps, and cardboard boxes line the tracks on our way into the Eternal City. The streets are littered with garbage, the air is heavy with pollution, and the buildings that lie outside the tourist zones are in dire need of repair. Rome's immortality in question, the youth we talk to all tell us that they have no hope for the future of their country. Many of them have already left Italy in search of work.
Graffiti is a candid way to understand resistance against the political and economic structure in a new country, especially a country where we have almost no grasp of the language. As we explored Rome on foot we found a particular neighborhood full of leftist and anarchist street art. One street in particular, Via Bolshe, is lined with fading murals that depict a culture of struggle and resistance.
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Nathan Bassett and Jason Netek are two best friends traveling the world together on a quest to become better global citizens and documenting their adventures at HoboandLefty.com.